General Rules For Eligibility

A veteran is eligible for VA home loan benefits if he or she has served on active duty and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable after:

• 90 days or more during wartime, OR
• 181 continuous days or more during peacetime prior to 09/08/80.

2-Year Requirement: A greater length of service is required for a veteran who:

• enlisted after September 7, 1980, OR
• was an officer AND began service after October 16, 1981.

These veterans must have completed either:

• at least 24 continuous months, OR
• the full period ordered to active duty, (not less than 90 days during wartime, or 181 days during peacetime).

PERIOD	DATES	TIME REQUIRED
WW II	9/16/40 - 7/25/47	90 Days
Post-WW II	7/26/47 - 6/26/50	181 Days
Korean Conflict	6/27/50 - 1/31/55	90 Days
Post-Korean Conflict	2/01/55 8/04/64	181 Days
Vietnam Era	8/05/64 - 5/07/75	90 Days
Post-Vietnam Era	5/08/75 - 9/07/80	181 Days
Persian Gulf War	8/02/90 - present	2 years, or the full period called to active duty (at least 90 days).

RESERVES/NATIONAL GUARD

The veteran must complete a total of 6 years in the Select Reserves or National Guard with an honorable discharge and not be otherwise eligible. Members may also be eligible with less than 6 years if they were called to active duty for at least 90 days during the Persian Gulf Era.

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE PERSONNEL

A member of the military who is currently serving on active duty is eligible after having served on continuous active duty for at least 181 days ( 90 days during the Gulf War period) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying period of active duty service.

ALL OTHERS

Eligibility may be established for certain other individuals, such as the Unmarried Surviving Spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service connected disability, Merchant Marines, Public Health Service, WAC’S and other World War II Services, and Officers of the Coast and Geodetic Survey.